Mechanism for comtrolling elevators



Feb. 5 1924. 1,482,453

v E. WYLDE MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATORS Filed April 18, 1921 5 Sheets-Shee\ l H1 y l) l1 Feb, 5rl 1924.

E, WYLDE MECHANSM FOR CONTROLLING ELEVTORS Filed April 18, 1921 Feb 5, 1924. 1,482,453 E, WYLDE MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING ELEVATORS Filed April 18, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 vwamtoz @W W W MM@ Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,482,453 PATENT oFFlcE.

EDWARD WYLDE, DECEASED, LATE OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; BY ELIZABETH WHITE WYLDE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, EXECUTOBS.

IECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING ELEVA'IORS.

Application led April 18, 1921. Serial No. 462,185.

To all wwm it may cof/wem:

Be it known that EDWARD WYLDE, deceased, formerly a citizen of' the United States, and residing at New York, 1N. Y., did, before his death, invent certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Controlling Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide mechanism by which an elevator despatcher located at a point remote from a bank of elevators may control or operate the same and receive at his station suitable automatic indications of the location of the cars and of the condition of the gates along the hatchway in which those cars are located.

In the operation of elevators it has been the custom before this invention to provide an operator on each car. In the case of heavy duty freight elevators, an operator permanently Aassigned to the car may not be necessary, but in such case it has been the custom for the employee using the elevator to operate the car himself. This is quite objectionable for many reasons and serious accidents have resulted from this method. In the case of a bank of elevators, ior example in a vwarehouse where trucks are driven onto and cli' the elevator, shaft erates, often heavy tire doors, are provided. In such installations Where there are several elevators, it is particulariy desirable that the control of the elevators and gates shall be taken away from the workmen and located at a central despatchers station, who shall controi all of the cars of the bank or elevators. One object of my invention to provide for a bank of so-called operatoriess elevators. Obviously the despatchcr, located perhaps at a distance from the cars, must have some indication of 'the condition of the gates of the bank and of the positions of the cars. The present invention accomplishes the above objects and provides a construction by whichl a single despatcher located at a distance from the bank of cars may control the same without having them even in sight.

The cars of the bank may be operated in various ways. A desirable form of construction is the So-called push-button type of elevator in which the operator needs merely to press a button corresponding to a Hoor to which the car is desired to be sent and the car then automatically travels to and stops at that floor. It is also desirable that the gate at that Hoor then automatically open. This type of elevator is the one which is preferable, but it is obvious that the invention here under consideration is not necessarily limited .to this type. It, however, has been thought advisable to indicate the present invention as applicable to this character vof elevator, for that at present seems to be the more desirable construction.

Push button types of elevators are well known and it is not thought necessary to indicate specifically any such construction. One such is now in use in the United States in the so-called Army base in Brooklyn, New York, and is set forth and described in a pending application. Serial Number 446,120. In the drawings of the present application we have shown a portion of that construction, sufficient, it is believed, for a complete understanding of the present invention.

In the drawings showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an elevator hatchway provided with 'three gates;

. Figs. 2 and 3 are partial sections through two gates;

Fig. 4 is a diagram of connections;

F ig. 5 is a detail indicating the osition of the knock-outs `when a gate 1s fully open;

F ig. 6 is a simplified diagram of connections; and

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the despatchers control panel i'or three elevators.

.t is assumed that all of the cars and their associated gates and operating mechanisms may be alike. Referring to Fig. 1, this represents a hatchway having three Hoors, each provided with a heavy fire door gate 102, 103, 104, one at each floor. The car, not shown, may be attached to the hoisting cable 2, passing over a hoisting drum 3 driven by a hoisting motor, not shown, but shown at 2 in Fig. 6 controlled by a switch 3a. The gates may be operated 1n various ways, but I have shown them as operated independently from a common gate motor 105 which drives an endless chain 107. This may be clutched in any suitable manner to any one of the gate-operating sheaves 109 which then elevate the gate through suitable cables 110 and 111, tor example. Referring now to Fig. 2, the gate 103 is shown in its closed position. `When the solenoid 122 is energized, it throws in the clutch 121 and clutches the shaft ot the gat/e drum 109 to the lfriction sprocket 120, which has its teeth in engagement with the driving chain 107. 'lhe gate will therefore rise and od'- set as indicated in Fi 3 and `will pass up by the sill and door ot the door above. 125 is a cable vvhich is operated by each ot the gates as the gate rises, and which serves to connect that gate to a common gate-movement-controlling mechanism located, for example, at the top of the hatchway. ln the present embodiment, the cable 125 rotates the shalt 124i which in turn through the belt 130 rotates the lmoch-.outf shalt 132 on which are located the so-called lmoclaouts 133 to 139 and K, as indicated in Figs.

1n the present embodiment, when the car slows down to stop, for example `when the povver to the main hoisting motor is cut off, a switch 36 closes, and the gate in the hatchvvay of that car and corresponding to the position oit the car will automatically open. Referring to lFig. d, there is provided at each gate a clutch 122, 220 or 223, one for each gate, each of which connects in its gate at the 'proper times. A common pair or gate-opening or gate-closing magnets 153 and 15d are provided. which close and open certain switches at the proper times. Agate selector is indicated by moving and stationary contact blocks designated as a Whole by 145 which has a feed strip 147 and stationary blocks 231, 226 and 228 corresponding to the irst door, 230, 227 and 229 corresponding to the .second door, and 200., 210 and 164 corresponding to the third door, together With a movingbrush 14:6 moved correspondingly with the car. There is also a solenoid magnet 156 energized at the proper time to make other connections.

Refer now to Fig. 6, which shows the position of the parts when a car is at the first door and with all its actuated gates closed, but before the car has moved awa from the door. Assume now that the despatchery desires to send that car to the third floor. He presses his button P. b. 3 (F ig. 7) corresponding to the third floor, the car will start, and move up toward the third loor. The brushes 146 and A will move in the direction indicated by the arrows and leave their stationa contact blocks 228 and B. As soon as rush .146 moves oid' that block, it deenergizes the solenoid 156, which then drops to the position indicated by dotted lines. 'lhe switch 36 will have been opened by the solenoid 11 as soon as the povver has been turned on to the hoisting mot-or, and `will not re-close until the car has slowed down to stop at the rasante third floor. When this happens, a circuit may be traced through switch 38, svvitch arm 161, solenoid 153, point 165, contact locks 162 and 163 (then closedby N), and out by Way of block 1611 and the movlng brush and eed striplii'. This Will raise the core of solenoid 153 and close 'the switches 166 and 169. Solenoid 1419 (Fig. 4) meanwhile is energized to lift the brake 1418 from the motor. Energization of solenoid 153 has meanwhile closed switch 191 which thus energizes the third door magnet 122, clutching that gate to the motor 105 and causing the gate to open automatically. Solenoid 156 has meanwhile been energized through switch 169 and switch portion 177. lt is thereafter maintained closed by the reed through resistance 230 and switch 17 8, which is closed by the rising oit' the core of solenoid 156. The gate continues to rise until knock-out 137 opens its switch 161 as indicated in Fig., 5, thus deenergizing solenoid 153 and stopping the gate, Where it remains locked through clutch 122 and the brake 1418 on motor 105 which has then been released.

rThe gate may then be closed if desired, by depressing the close button 195 in the car or the similar close,button 218 outside the shalt.

When such a push button elevator is provided, the despatcher may therefore, by pressing the button corresponding to the floor desired, send the car to that door Where it will stop and that gate only Will auto-v matically open. It may thereafter be closed, stopped, re-opened and handled as desired by the open or close buttons in the car or outside the shaft at that door.

In order to control a bank of such elevators and gates, there is provided a central despatchers stat-ion which may be located at any distance desired Jfrom the bank. Each of the elevators may be of the same construction and operation. In Fig. 7, for example, is shown the panel board of the despatcher at his station, the three cars being indicated, With their control buttbns y P. b. 1, P. b. 2 and l?. b. 3 for despatching the cars as desired.

The despatcher, of course, should not start his car until the gate is closed. 1n order to indicate to him when this occurs, there has been provided signalinganeans which preferably indicates only when all the gates of that shaft are shut. This may be in the form of a lamp l. rl`he despatcher should also know Where each of his cars is in the hatchways. This may be indicated to him by a row of lamps iF, (i, H, corresponding to the doors. ln the present embodiment,

these signal lamps may be connected, as shown in Figs. 41 and 6, and the gate lamp l is connected to the switch li held closed by the knockout l so long as all the gates are shut, and which will release the spring pressed lever L to open the circuit when any gate starts to move. It is preferable that the position-indicating lamps shall be lighted only when the car is at rest or substantially at rest at a floor. This may be done b connecting them in parallel to contact blbcks B, C and D correspondin to the similar floors, over which moves t e brush A and by connectin the return lead to the stationary vContact b ocks of switch P, N, O associated with the solenoid 156, which is one form of a mechanism ,for preventing the lamp selectorl from closing the circuits until the car has arrived at the ioor desired and the solenoid 156, a part of the gate-operating mechanism, has been energized.

Now assume that car one is at the lower ioor with the-'gates of that hatchway all shut. The gate lamp I burns. The position lamp F is also lighted as its circuit is closed through the switch P, N, 0, the Solenoid 156 still remaining energized so long as brush 146 of the gate selector remains on the Contact block 228. Assume then that. the despatcher wishes to send car one to the third ioor. He prees his button P. b. 3 corresponding to that car. The car starts to move upwardly and the brushes 146 and A travel off from their respective contact blocks and move to the left as indicated by the arrows. This immediatelydeenergizes the solenoid 156 and its core dro s to the position indicated by dotted lines, t us opening a circuit between the blocks P, N, O and lamp F becomes extinguished. Nothin happens until the car reaches the thir floor, where it will stop and the gate will automatically open, revolving knock-out K which will extinguish gate lamp I. Lamp H will then light upl because solenoid 153 is automatically energized, which immediately closes switch 169y and energizes solenoi 156,'th'us closing the lamp circuit at the switch P, N, O. The lamps on the control board then have the appearance of that indicated with relation to car 2 in Fig. 7 that is, the car position lamp H is lighted and the gate indicating lamp I is extinguished, showing the despatcher that the car is at the third floor but the gate is open. When the passenger on the car is ready to descend, he presses his close button 195 which causes the gate to close and the il knock-out K to rotate from the position indicated in Fig. 5 until it again reaches the position indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, just as the gate reaches its closed position. The despatcher then sees the lights in the condition indicated with respect to car three on his panel board and knows that all the gates of that shaft are closed and he may then safely send the car to another floor.

If it were desired to have'the lamps F, G and H light up successively as `the car passes the floors, whether the car stops at any one or not, this could be accomplished b permanently connecting stationary panel b ocks P N O, but it is deemed more desirable and in fact, a much Safer mode of operation to have the position lamps burns only when the car has reached the floor to which it is intended it shall travel. Where a large number of cars, such as from seven to ten in a bank are operated by a single despatcher, it has been found that it 1s much safer to arran the lights in this manner because otherwlse the despatcher might become confused if the floor lamps lit up successively and think that a car which was just passing a floor was ready to move from that floor, particularly where he has to keep track of so many elevators. It is therefore deemed much safer to have the position lights burn only when the car is at rest at a oor.

It is understood that while the foregoing embodiment illustrates the construction now deemed most preferable, the invention under consideration and the claims therein arenot limited to the arrangement, mode of operation or constructions above specifically de scribed.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a hatchway, gates along the same and means for operating the gates, an elevator car, a despatcliers station, means thereat whereby a despatcher ina cause the car to start from any floor an stop at any other of said floors; and, at

said station, signaling means controlled by the gates and indicating when the gate of the floor corresponding to the sition of the car is closed, and other signa ing means controlled by the cars movement and indicatin the cars position.

2. n combination, a hatchway, gates along the same, and means for operating the gates, an elevator car, a despatchers station and means thereat whereby a despatcher mag cause the car to start from any Hoor an stop at any other of said floors; and, at said station, slgnalin means controlled by the gates and indicatin only when all the gates are closed, and ot er signaling means controlled by the cars movement and indieating the cars position, but only when the car has substantially reached the desired oor.

Y3. In combination,

a hatcllway, gates along the same and means for operating the gates, an elevator car, a despatchers station and means thereat whereby a despatcher ma cause the car to start from any floor and7 stop at any other of said floors; and, at said station, a single signalin device controlled by the gates and indica ing when the gate of the floor corresponding to the position of the car is closed, and other signallll ing means, one for each Hoor, controlled by I that door is closed, and other signaling.

means controlled by the cars movement and indicating the cars position.

5. lin comblnatlon, a bank of hatchways and elevators, gates along each hatchvvayand means for operating the gates, cars in said hatclivvays, a despatchers station and means tliereat whereby the despatcher may cause any of the cars to start from any `door and automatically stop at any other of said floors; and, at said station, signaling means individual to each elevator and indicating to the despatcher the position of each car and when its gates are closed.

6. lin combination, a hatchivay, gates along the same and means for operating the gates, an elevator car, signaling means indicating the position ot the car and means t'or operating the same comprising a selector moved correspondingly with the car, and means preventing the operation of said sig nalin means except when the car is substantially at the li'iloor at which it is to stop.

7. lin combination, a hatcl'ivvay, gates along the same and means for operating the' gates, an elevator car, a car position indicator at a central point and means for operating the same comprising a selector moved correspondingly with the car, and means renderin the position indicator inoperative to in icate the cars position eacept vvlien tbe car arrives at a door and its gate-opening mechanism has started to function.,

8. ln combination, a bank ot hatcliways Mean-sa and elevators, gates along each hatchvvay and means for operatingr the gates, cars Yin said hatchways, a despatchers station and means ther-eat whereby the despatcher may cause any ot the cars to start trom any floor and automatically stop at any other of said tloors; and, at said station, signaling means individual to each elevator and indi-l cating to the despatcher the position ot each car and when its gates are closed and comprlsing for each car a visible signal displayed only vvhen all its gates are closed, and a position indicator controlled in part by the movement of its car and in part by me gate-operating mechanism.

9. lin combination, an elevator car and hatchvvay and gates along the same, an electric circuit and a gate indicating signal operated by the circuit, and means controlling the circuit and comprising a switch common to all the gates and operated by each gate independently, whereby the signal is given only when all the gates are closed.

l0. lin combination, a bank or hatchways and elevators, gates along each hatchvvay, cars in said hatchvvays and a despatchers station; and at said station signaling means grouped together and individual to each elevator and indicating tothe despatcher the position oit each car and vvhen its gates are closed, and comprising tor each car a visible si nal displayed only when its gates are closed and controlled independently by each gate oit that car, and a position indicator controlled in part by the movementot its car and in part by the 0ate-operating mechanism and comprising a signal which is given only when the car is substantially atthe floor at which it is to stop.

Dated New orlr, N. Y., this 15th day o april, 1921i; 

